Welcome to Ben Franklin's World,

Podcast about Early American History with Liz Covert.

The study of history is key to understanding who we are

and how we can affect a better future.

Van Franklin's world will introduce you to historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present day world.

And now, here's your host, Liz Colart.

Hello and welcome to episode 107 of Ben Franklin's world.

The podcast dedicated to helping you learn more about how the people and events of our

early American past have shaped the present day world we live in.

In May 1787, a convention convened in Philadelphia with the goal of discussing, revising, and redrafting the government of the United States.

We know the second American Constitution that came out of that Convention

as a Constitution of 1787. And when politicians, lawyers, and historians discuss the Constitution, how it was drafted,

and the intent of the founders, they often rely on two documents.

The Federalist Papers, which is a collection of promotional tracks written to convince New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution,

and James Madison's notes on the Convention, which she took during the Convention's proceedings between May and September 1787.

But what do we really know about Madison's notes?

Yes, they capture a lot of information about the conventions proceedings, but did Madison draft them to serve as a definitive account of the event for posterity?

Today we investigate James Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention

with award-winning legal historian Mary Sarah Builder,

author of Madison's Hand,

revising the Constitutional Convention.

During our investigation, Mary reveals

...